Former champion Pete Oakley was penalised two shots at the Senior British Open on Friday after his caddie, Oakley’s wife Jennifer, took too long to locate his ball on a fairway during the second round.

The 63-year-old from Florida, who won the 2004 title at Royal Portrush, was penalised for ‘undue delay’ when playing the 13th hole.

His wife became confused when a ball from a group on the 10th tee landed nearby.

“I was looking at the wrong fairway,” she admitted.

European Tour Senior Referee Andy McFee said: “It came to our attention that Pete Oakley was having some trouble on the 13th hole.

“He stood by the bunker where his ball had landed for two or three minutes, then there was a couple of minutes wandering up to the tee, then a couple of minutes for the rules official to go and get the caddie from the 10th and bring her back.”

As a result, Oakley had to sign for an 83 instead of an 81. However, at 16 over, he had comfortably missed the cut anyway.

“I might not have been laughing so much about it if the two-shot penalty had seen me miss the cut,” Oakley said.